Ryan said the show "hit too close to home" because Underwood's character, at the time, was a member of Congress.

"His behavior was so reprehensible, and it hit too close to home because he was a House member, that it just bothered me too much," Ryan said. "And what I thought is, it makes us all look like we're like that."

Despite Ryan's distaste, the show has generated plenty of buzz in D.C. Last year's White House Correspondents' Dinner featured a "House of Cards" spoof that saw actor Kevin Spacey, who plays Underwood, exchanging zingers with real Washington notables like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.